BLAIR, Robert and Thomas GRAY. The Grave: by Robert Blair: To which is added Gray's Elegy In a Country Church Yard. Printed [at the Cicero Press by Henry Fry] for Scatcherd & Whitaker. [1787].
8vo. Later half black calf, spine with gilt lettering and tools marbled endpapers, all edges marbled; pp. iv + 52, engraved frontispiece and title page; binding a little rubbed with small abrasion to rear board, very good. Provenance: prelim inscribed to Christopher Beresford from Geoffrey Fry (1888-1960), private secretary to prime ministers Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin. The printer of this book, Henry Fry, was his great uncle, being the brother of Geoffrey's grandfather Joseph Storrs Fry, the chocolate magnate. They were both the sons of the elder Joseph Fry (1728-1787), who founded the chocolate business as well as running the type-foundry and printing firm that he handed on to Henry. It is perhaps no coincidence that Henry printed these two popular meditations on mortality in the year of his father's death.
First edition thus. A charming edition bringing together two classic eighteenth century works along with a preface and notes by George Wright.
Scarce. Worldcat records only 13 copies.
#2119063